Ryzen Z1 vs Ryzen 5 8540U
Ryzen Z1
Ryzen 5 8540U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen Z1
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 8540U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen Z1 | Ryzen 5 8540U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen Z1 | Ryzen 5 8540U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen 5 8540U
Ryzen Z1
The Ryzen Z1 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Maio 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,406 points. Launch price was $299.
Ryzen 5 8540U
The Ryzen 5 8540U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,359 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen 5 8540U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen Z1 versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8540U — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen Z1 uses the Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8540U uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Z1 scores 18,406 against the Ryzen 5 8540U's 18,359 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen Z1. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Ryzen Z1 | Ryzen 5 8540U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.9 GHz | 4.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 4 nm | 4 nm |
| Architecture | Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) | Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 18,406 | 18,359 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,823 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,504 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 9,280 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen Z1 uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 8540U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen Z1 | Ryzen 5 8540U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP8 | FP7 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-5600, LPDDR5x-7500 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 256 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 14 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen Z1) / AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 5 8540U). The Ryzen 5 8540U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 740M), while the Ryzen Z1 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 8540U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 8540U rivals Core i5-1335U.
| Feature | Ryzen Z1 | Ryzen 5 8540U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon 740M |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V (SVM) |
| Target Use | — | Productivity |
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